All In A Day

As light starts to break in the Amazon Rain Forest, everything comes to life. Parrots and macaus start their daily routines and light up the sky with their distinct chirping sounds. Ah yes it is morning again. Anglers awake from their night sleep and head for the main dining cabin for a cup of coffee or tea and breakfast that will help them kick start their action-packed day. Discussions of which rods to rig up and what flies to put on first are main conversation points.

The starting of outboard engines can be heard and the anglers pack their lunch and head back to their cabins for some last minute prepping for another day on the water. Eager guides load the boats with gear as the anglers do their last minute checks to make sure they have their sunblock and fly bags. The fishing boats get up to speed and anglers make preparations for the day’s fishing. As they clean their sunglasses, put on sunblock and tie on a fresh fly their guide is fine tuning the game plan in his head. The boat disappears off into the distance and the fishing day begins for two excited anglers and their trusted Fly Fishing guide. They will spend the next 8-10 hours casting, chasing and catching one of the most energetic fish alive… The Peacock Bass.

Back at the Camp

The water is getting low on the River and some of the lagoons are getting hard to get into. Two of the guides on their day off are transporting extra boats into a couple of big lagoons so anglers over the next few weeks can continue to fish them. The paths from the Main river to the Lagoons are trimmed with Machetes and the boats put in place.

Many daily chores are being done. Laundry is collected from the fishermen’s cabins and clothes are washed and hung out to dry on a clothes line in the Amazon sun. The cabins themselves are swept and mopped clean. Fresh bread is being made by the Chef in the kitchen and meat and fish are being prepared for tonight’s dinner. This is all in a day’s work behind the scenes all while the anglers are out enjoying their day.

Back on the Water…..

The anglers are having a really good morning catching lots of Peacock Bass. It has been a little cloudy and the top water action has been awesome. It is nearing lunch time and the anglers are starting to feel hungry from the calories they have burned casting and catching fish all morning. A beach with some shade trees is picked out for a place for fishermen to have lunch. Two of the boats meet and Hammocks are spread out in trees for the anglers to relax in the shade while the guides prepare fresh fish and vegetables over an open fire on the beach. Small straight branches are cut and built into a grill top perfect for grilling today’s meal. A cerveza or two are opened and enjoyed by the relaxing anglers as the guides work hard to prepare and serve an outstanding feast.

Lunch is served while anglers tell stories of the morning’s events. Pictures are shared of some really nice fish and the sighting of a three-toed sloth in one of the lagoons. The pictures start to re-build excitement in the anglers and as lunch is finished, hammocks are emptied and everyone is now re-rigging their gear for the afternoon.

On the Water…

The Fly Fishing remains really good all afternoon. A huge rain shower moves through and cools everything off and the action gets even better. Three Peacocks over 15 pounds are caught on streamers during the rain storm. By now all the anglers have switched to shallow running streamers. They are fishing tight to structure where schools of Butterfly Peacocks are attacking flies as soon as they hit the water. Double hook-ups are common and the afternoon scene is unreal.

Back at the Camp…..

Daily chores are being wrapped up. The clothes are dry and the smell of fresh bread is in the air. One of the staff members has been out catching Pirhanhas all day, they are now cleaned and being prepped in the kitchen for part of the evenings meal. Pirhanha soup is one of the weeks top talked about dishes.

As the sound of motors start to become louder off in the distance, the camp staff hurries to their stations much like a scene out of the classic T.V. show Fantasy Island. The anglers arrive back at camp ready to gear down after an action-packed day of fly fishing. As the guides unload the fishing boats, the anglers are greeted by their camp host with Caipirinha cocktails and appetizers.

There is about an hour of daylight left and the guests take this opportunity to take a shower, swim in the river and toss a frisbee around the beach. There is talk of a soccer game with the guides after fishing tomorrow.

As nightfall sets, it is now time for dinner in the main dining Cabin. The anglers are now sitting around a large table sharing stories and telling lies about the days events. A bottle of red wine is passed around as the first course is served. The room starts to get quiet as the end of the feast is brought to the table. The meal is finished off with some ice cream and a little more wine.

It is a beautiful evening as the air temperatures start to cool into the 70’s. Anglers relax in the brand new dining cabin where they will spend the next couple of hours relaxing and comparing stories from the day’s events. One of the anglers breaks out a guitar and the evening is in full swing. As it starts to get late, anglers one by one make their way back to their cabins to get some sleep.

All In a Day

As they lay in bed winding down from a long day they start to realize that they get to do it all over again tomorrow!